Aliyah Bonnette

Photo by Matt Ramey

Artist Aliyah Bonnette creates quilts reflecting her ancestry and experience. While crediting Kennedi Carter for inspiration, Aliyah in turn inspires us with her deeply personal art:

3 things you can’t live without? 

My headphones to listen to my music in my studio. My poodle Millie. And tacos.

If you could reimagine the art industry where would you start? 

I’d imagine a diverse industry accepting of all people who make art regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, or sexuality. Also, more ought to be done to prepare young artists to be successful within the art world.

We want to wrap ourselves in your cozy quilted art, is that so wrong? 

Absolutely not! I definitely snuggle up with my quilts. However, they aren’t too comfy after I paint on them.

What one of your recent creations would you like to share and why?

This is one of my favorite and most recently completed quilts. I wanted to share it because it means so much to me in terms of my craft and content. It is currently the biggest and most complex quilt I have ever made. Plus, I used my brother as my figure model and that makes it even more special to me.

Sex is______.

Powerful.